Page 7 of Saved by the Cruel Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #1)

CHAPTER SIX

E lias stared at the parchment for the second time, his mind not absorbing the information. There was just too much going on to concentrate. Plus, his thoughts kept straying to the woman he was going to wed.

What made me accept her proposal so easily? Just minutes before she arrived, I was tellin ’ the elders how I refused to get wed.

Putting the fire poker back in its place beside the hearth, he left his study and went to her chamber.

She opened the door a few seconds after his knock, then smiled up at him. Her smile was genuine and pulled at something in his gut. It wasn’t a painful or irritating sensation, just a foreign one.

“Me Laird,” she greeted. “What a pleasant surprise. What can I do for ye?”

Now that he was standing there, Elias was suddenly at a loss for words. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

“Take a walk with me,” he ordered.

She nodded. “Of course. Just let me grab me cloak.”

What am I thinkin’? It’s cold enough outside to make Fergus use his cane, and now I’m askin’ her to brave the weather?

She was back almost before he could finish his thought, wrapped up in a warm sheepskin cloak.

She followed him down the hallway, stairs, and then outside.

The air was crisp, cooling his lungs with every breath he took. But it felt good, too.

Elias enjoyed the Highland weather even though some said it was too harsh. To him, it was raw and pure. The air was clogged with wood smoke, like in England.

He walked a bit until he got to the garden before he said anything. There wasn’t much to see at this time of year, but it was still well-kept and sported vines and marble benches for relaxing.

“Have ye settled in?” Elias asked as they walked by one of the marble benches.

“Aye, thank ye. ‘Tis a very nice chamber.”

Elias nodded. “Fergus paid me a visit,” he said after a minute.

Holly’s eyebrows rose. “Aye?”

“Aye. He told me about yer interaction with the maid.”

Although her cheeks had already turned a pale shade of pink from the cold air, that color spread across all of her face now.

She pursed her lips. “I’m sure ‘tis just an adjustment period,” she said, her voice a little stiff.

“I hope ye’re nae goin’ to fight with all me maids? Or will it be all the servants, Miss Taylor? Ye’re nae goin’ to fight with all me servants, are ye?”

“What? Nay,” Holly said quickly. “Nay, I dinnae mean to fight with anyone—ye have to believe me about that.”

The Laird made a sound halfway between a grunt and a chuckle. “The maid was in the wrong, Miss Taylor. I am just surprised by the vehement way ye defended me. Well, according to what Fergus told me.”

Holly was surprised by his defending her when she had only just arrived at the castle. The maid must have worked for him for far longer. Holly had barely been in the castle at all.

Still, she lifted her chin defensively. “Sometimes, I feel ‘tis important to be stern about… certain matters.”

“Ye mean like callin’ me a monster?”

Holly glanced up at Elias so abruptly that she lost her footing and stumbled. He reached out a hand and grabbed her arm, steadying her.

“Thank ye,” she muttered, her face turning an even brighter shade of red. “‘Tis true. I am to be the lady of this castle, and I willnae tolerate such talk about ye, Me Laird.”

Elias realized he was still holding her arm and quickly let it go. When he didn’t immediately respond, she stopped and turned to face him, forcing him to stop walking as well.

“I take me duties as both yer wife and lady of the clan seriously, Me Laird,” she said, her voice stiff but full of conviction. “I willnae allow petty gossip and disrespect to rule our home and our people.”

Elias felt his face relax. The way she said ‘our’ did a strange thing to his insides. His heart felt a little less cold, his mood a little brighter.

“Do ye?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “How seriously will ye take yer duties when ye are me wife?”

“Very seriously, of course,” she replied. “Why would I nae try me best with anythin’ I set me mind to?”

“Aye, ‘tis a good way to be, but it willnae be yer mind that ye are settin’ to this task, but yer body, Miss Taylor.”

Elias couldn’t help but smirk when he saw the horror in her eyes.

“Me Laird, I’ve only just met ye,” she gasped.

“Aye, and what has that got to do with it? Are ye claimin’ that I’m so monstrous and beastly that ye willnae take a second look at me? That ye dinnae want to see me body?”

“Nay, I’m nae sayin’ that,” Holy blurted.

“Then ye do want to see me body and fulfill yer wifely duties with yer body?”

Elias couldn’t help himself. Not that it was hard to talk in such a way to a woman he would very much like to get into his bed.

“I… I mean, of course, I will do the best I can with any of me duties, and I shall do whatever is expected of me, but I would very much like to get to ken ye first, Me Laird.”

“And ye will,” Elias said. “Ye are in me castle now, and ye are promised to me, and ye will get to ken me very well.” He leaned in closer to her. “And I ken ye will enjoy it very much.”

Holly breathed heavily through her nose, unable to respond. Her cheeks were a perfect pink tint, and her cherry lips were slightly parted.

Elias grunted in satisfaction and walked her back.

Holly was already up, refreshed, and ready to tackle the day when a knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” she called out, then watched as the door opened slowly.

A few seconds later, Eliza, the maid from yesterday, walked in.

“Me Lady,” she greeted with a curtsey. “I was sent by the Laird to help ye get dressed for the day. He also wants ye to meet him in his study.”

Holly nodded, then gestured toward her light blue gown. “I’m mostly ready, but if ye’re willin’, I could use some help tamin’ me hair.”

She reached up and ran her fingers through her red hair, wincing when they caught in some tangles.

“Of course, Me Lady,” Eliza said. “Ye just sit right there”—she pointed at the chair in front of the dressing table—“and I’ll have ye ready in nay time.”

True to her word, Eliza had all the snarls and snags brushed out of Holly’s long tresses in a few minutes. She then weaved the mass into one long braid that she left hanging down Holly’s back.

“I can pin it up for ye if ye prefer,” she suggested.

Holly shook her head. “‘Tis perfect, thank ye, Eliza. Now, if ye’d be so kind as to show me to the Laird’s study?”

Eliza nodded but didn’t move right away. Instead, she stood there, wringing her hands.

“I apologize for oversteppin’ yesterday, Me Lady,” she said. “I shouldnae have spoken about the Laird the way I did.”

Holly gave a nod but didn’t respond. She should not have had to tell the maid not to talk behind her Laird’s back, especially to someone she didn’t know, and even more especially to the woman who was soon to be Lady McAllister.

Servants gossiped, everyone knew that. In fact, Holly knew she could get the best information by going to some of her servants. But most knew their boundaries and wouldn’t dare insult their masters so openly.

“If ye’ll take me to the Laird’s study now?” Holly said.

Eliza nodded, turned on her heel, and walked to the door.

Holly looked around her luxurious bedchamber for Ollie. For the first time in she couldn’t remember how long, the gray cat was not curled up on the bed with her when she woke up. But then he wasn’t used to new places, especially one as big as this castle, so he might be a little nervous. If she had time, she’d look under the bed, but right now she needed to meet with the Laird. The man who was soon to be her husband.

A thrill of nervousness and excitement shot through her as she followed Eliza out of her chamber and into the hallway. Light filtered through the windows, casting golden beams on the floor.

She still couldn’t believe she was marrying Laird McAllister. In less than a month! She hoped for the hundredth time that she hadn’t traded one bad situation for another.

When they reached a wide, wooden door, Eliza knocked brusquely and then opened it. She stood aside so that Holly could enter.

Holly had barely taken two steps into the Laird’s study before Eliza quickly closed the door, shutting her in with Elias McAllister.

She turned and spotted him sitting behind a massive, sturdy wooden desk. His black hair was pulled back and secured behind his neck, making the scar running down the side of his face even more noticeable.

He looked up when she entered, and his brown eyes traveled down the length of her body. Slowly .

Holly fidgeted. She could feel his gaze warming everywhere it touched.

“Come in,” Elias said, not getting up from his chair. “Ye dinnae have to stand in the background like some shy, wee maid. Ye are goin’ to be me wife—the lady of this castle.”

Holly bristled a little at the reprimand. She was known for her boldness, and the only reason she’d been hesitant was because she was familiarizing herself with the large chamber. It was massive, with bookshelves lining the wall from floor to ceiling on the east wall. Two chairs sat in front of his desk for guests to sit comfortably. A large hearth occupied the wall opposite the bookshelves, and several overstuffed chairs sat in front of it. A sideboard with crystal decanters filled with spirits of some kind ran along the adjacent wall.

She lifted her chin slightly and walked purposefully to his desk. “Ye wanted to see me, Me Laird?”

“Aye.” He pushed his chair back from the desk.

Holly’s eyes widened when she spotted Ollie sitting on his lap. She gaped at her pet for a minute, then looked back up at him.

Elias shrugged. “He wandered in here and jumped up on me lap. Nay matter how many times I tried to get the beastie to leave, he wouldnae.”

She laughed.

He seemed disgruntled, but she thought it looked adorable. Ollie wasn’t always friendly with other people. He was just as quick to hiss at and scratch strangers as he was to purr in her lap.

“He must like ye, then,” she said.

The compliment didn’t seem to sit well with Elias. He muttered something under his breath, then opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Enter!” he boomed.

Holly cringed slightly at the loudness of his voice, which seemed to echo and bounce around the chamber. She turned just as the door opened to see a tall, thin woman carrying a large satchel.

“Ach, just in time,” Elias said.

Holly raised an eyebrow in question.

“I noticed ye didnae have any bags when ye arrived,” he told her quietly.

His voice was low enough that she could barely hear him, so she knew the maid hadn’t been able to hear him.

He took a breath, and when he spoke next, his voice was back to being loud and commanding. “This is the castle’s seamstress. She will get yer measurements and sew ye a couple of gowns.”

Holly’s mouth dropped open in surprise. She glanced at the seamstress, who had reached them. “That isnae necessary, Me Laird. Eliza sent someone to fetch me things?—”

“There is a standing block next to the hearth,” Elias told the seamstress. “I trust that will serve yer purpose?”

The seamstress nodded. “Aye, Me Laird, thank ye.” She turned to Holly with a pleasant smile. “Me name is Shana. Dinnae worry about a thing. I will have ye in fine gowns in just a few days.”

Holly tried to protest, but Shana linked their arms and guided her to the hearth, where a warm fire burned brightly.

The seamstress instructed Holly to stand on the box.

“This has the best lightin’,” she said as she set her satchel on a chair. “Now, let’s take these clothes off ye so I can get yer measurements.”

Holly glanced at Elias. “Me Laird?” she said politely, expecting him to leave the room so they could have privacy.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest. A playful smile shone through his trimmed dark beard.

“Laird McAllister,” Holly chided, using his title for emphasis. “Please give us some privacy.”

While she talked, the seamstress busied herself with removing her overdress, making her words a bit muffled. She batted the material away from her face and pinned the Laird with a warning look when he still refused to leave.

“Why?”

Holly stared at him in surprise. His brown eyes raked over her body. Everywhere they landed, she swore she could feel a soft caress. She shook the thought away.

“Why?” she repeated incredulously. “Well, ‘tis nae proper!”

She’d never seen anyone work so quickly. It seemed like she’d only taken a breath and suddenly the seamstress had her down to only her chemise. She gasped and crossed her arms over her chest, even though the material completely covered her. But it wasn’t right that the Laird could see her in her underthings!

“Ye are to be me wife,” Elias said darkly.

Holly gasped in outrage and pressed her lips together. It was unseemly to argue in front of the staff. She obediently stood stiffly while the seamstress made quick work of getting her measurements. But she vowed to herself that the Laird would get an earful as soon as they were alone.

He watched her with his dark eyes, his gaze roaming over her body. As much as she wanted to look away, to hide under a chair to escape his hot looks, she remained where she was, staring at his face.

It took her a long time to look at his scar, but only because his eyes pinned her in place. She could not look away from it, nor did she want to.

His eyes were dark brown. But more than that, there were little golden specks in them.

When their gazes met, his eyes flashed a little in surprise. He probably hadn’t expected her to watch him so boldly.

Most ladies would bow their heads or look away, but Holly wasn’t like most ladies. She wanted him to see the fire in her gaze, to know just how upset she was with him. At the same time, she struggled to hide the way she admired his looks.

“There,” the seamstress said, straightening. “That will do.” She turned to Elias. “Yer lady is quite bonny,” she said. “‘Twill take me nay time to sew a gown or two for her.”

“Thank ye, Shana,” Elias said.

“Thank ye,” Holly told the seamstress. She forced her tone to be thankful instead of full with the hostility she had for the Laird.

Neither spoke as the seamstress left the study.

Holly was so furious that she forgot she was only wearing her chemise. She marched over to the desk and walked around it until she stood over Elias, her fists planted on her hips. Ollie, sensing the tension, meowed and jumped off his lap.

“Do ye have nay shame, Me Laird?” she hissed. “Nay decency?”

She practically choked on the last word when his eyes darkened and traveled down her body. When he looked back into her eyes, he smiled.

“At times.”

His casual tone only infuriated her more. But his look! The way he looked at her, as if she were a feast and he a starving man, almost undid her. Holly knew she had to put such thoughts aside if she was going to make her point. But it was difficult. With just his eyes on her, he was able to make her body heat up uncomfortably.

“I am nae yer wife yet, and ye dinnae have the right to see me only in me chemise until I am.”

Elias ran his gaze up and down her body with a grin. “I’m seein’ ye in yer chemise now.”

Holly finally realized she was standing before him wearing just a thin chemise. Her face flushed with anger—and something suspiciously like pleasure. She reached out to push him, but he was faster and grabbed her wrist. One quick tug and she sprawled on his lap. She shrieked in surprise and outrage.

“Do ye have any more tricks, Holly?” he asked, his voice wrapping sensually around her name. “I love a challenge.”

Holly squirmed in his lap, then suddenly stilled. Under her bottom, she could feel the evidence of his desire. Her eyes widened in surprise even as a tiny thrill of… something shot through her body.

She was so stunned that she didn’t move when he reached out a hand and gently gripped her chin. Their gazes met and held as he slowly pulled her closer. So close that she had to close her eyes, or they would end up crossing while trying to focus. So close that she could feel the heat of his body, smell the mint on his breath.

He was going to kiss her. Holly knew this, and even welcomed it. All of her earlier anger was gone, pushed aside while she anticipated the feel of his lips on hers.

Someone knocked on the door, startling them both. Panicked, Holly jumped off his lap, but she lost her balance and stumbled. She watched, horrified, as her world tilted, and her head aimed straight for the corner of the desk as she fell.